Censer.



No. 791,930. PATENTE!) JUNE 6, 1905.Y

D. J. MULLEN, DEGD. Y

N. A. MULLBN, ADMINISTRATRIX.

GENSER.

APPLICATION HLBD.OGT.15,1904. /4

UNITED STATES Patented June 6, 1905.

PATENT OEEICE.

DANIEL J. MULLEN, OF SHEFFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA; NORA A. MULLEN ADMINISTRATRIX OF SAID DANIEL J. MULLEN, DEOEASED.

CENSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,930, dated June 6, 1905.

l Application filed October l5, 1904. Serial No. 228,638.

To all whom it may concern:

field, in the county of Warren and State of' Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Censers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in censors of the character designed for church services. Oensers of this kind are provided with suspension-chains which are attached to the body of the censer and pass loosely upward through the cover of the censer and are connected to a ring or like device at their outer or upper ends. A lifting-chain is also provided, which is attached to the cover of the censer and to the aforesaid ring or like device to which the outer ends of the suspension-chains are connected. One objection to this common form of censer is that the suspension and lifting chains on account of being attached to a simple ring or support are liable to become entangled when handled by the priest and altar boys, rendering it difiicult to distinguish the lifting-chain from the suspension-chains, so that the cover cannot be conveniently lifted when desired to place the incense in the fire-pot, but is apt to be lifted when the censeris swung and allow the fire to escape. Furthermore, the entangling of the chains frequently results in the censer falling from the hand of the priest or altar boy with liability of disastrous consequences. Another objection to the type of censer in common use is that soot from the fire-pot collects on the cover and the latter is subjected to the direct heat of the fire, the frequent cleansing required, as well as the deleterious action of the heat, causing the nickel plate of the cover to become tarnished and discolored, so that replating at more or less frequent intervals is necessary.

The object of my invention is to overcome these objections in a simple and eiiicient manner; and to this end the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a censer embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a part sectional and part elevational view of the same.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral l designates the body of the censer, 2 its fire-pot, and 3 its cover, the latter preferably being of frusto-conical form and perforate, as in the ordinary construction. In accordance with my invention I provide upon the interior of the cover 3 a protector 4, consisting of a perforated body conforming in contour to the contour of the cover and of somewhat smaller size in order to providean intermediate space for ventilation to permit combustion of the incense within the pot 2. The protector 4 is secured at its crown portion to the crown of the cover 3 by a screw or other analogous fastening 5, so as to be raised and lowered with the cover, and when the cover is closed the lower end of said protector seats about the upper end of the lire-pot 2, thus causing the heated air and products of combustion therefrom to circulate within said protector before coming in contact with the cover 3. By this means the greater portion of the soot and unconsumed products of combustion escaping from the pot 2 come in contact with and are retained upon the interior of the protector, thus preventing to a large extent the accumulation of such products upon the cover 3. By this means frequent cleansing of the cover is rendered unnecessary, and as the protector 4 also guards the body of the cover from the direct action of the heat from the fire-pot the nickel-platingof the cover does not become so quickly tarnished or discolored, and more or less frequent replating is thereby obviated.

Rising from the top of the body 1 are rods 6, which pass through openings 7 in the base of the cover 3 and are provided at their upper ends with threaded stems 8, which pass through a bell or guard 9 and receive nuts 10, whereby said bell or guard is clamped in position upon said rods. The rods 6 form rigid guides for the cover 3 and prevent the same from having lateral movement while permitting it to move up and down in a true vertical A path to open or close communication with the fire-pot 2. They also prevent the cover from swinging open when the censer is swung or accidentally dropped, and the consequent escape of fire from the pot 2, the cover being so supported that a positive action on the part of the operator is required to adjust it to an open or closed position. The bell or guard 9 is approximately frusto-conical, its lower portion or base having a pronounced outward swell or curvature to receive and accommodate the base of the cover 3 when the latter is lifted. The function of the bell or guard is to not only serve as a support and connection for the upper ends of the rods 6, but to act as a stop to limit the upward movement of l the cover 3 and prevent its displacement.

The upper end or crown portion of the cover 3 is vertically movable through the open top portion of the bell or guard 9 and carries a ring 10, to which the lower end of a liftingchain 11 is attached. This chain passes upwardly through an opening in a guide or spreader plate 12 and also through an opening in a suspension-plate 13, which latter is provided with a grip or handhold 14, whereby the censer may be carried or transported. To lugs 15 projecting from the plate 13 are attached the upper ends of suspension-chains 16, which are attached at their lower ends to` eyes 17 on the clamping-nuts 10. Intermediate of their ends the chains 16 are connected to the guide or spreader plate 12, preferably by passing a link of each chain through openings in the ends of the plate which, as shown, is approximately of triangular form. By this construction the chains are supported and retained in their proper relative positions and prevented from interfering with each other and with the lifting-chain 11 when the censer is swung or when the chains 16 are permitted to slacken upon the operation of the chain 11 to lift the cover 3 when it is desired to replenish the fire-pot 2 with incense. The upper end of the lifting-chain 11 is provided with a ring or handhold 11 of suitable form to enable it to be conveniently manipulated.

From the foregoing description of the construction it will be seen that when the censer is supported by the operator, who grasps the handle 111 in one hand, the guide or spreader plate 12 will hold the suspension-chains separate from each other and the cover 3 will rest upon the body 1 and the chain 11 will be supported in proper position to enable it to be readily distinguished from the chains 16 and to be conveniently operated. 1f now it is desired to lift the cover 3, it is only necessary to grasp the ring 11 in the other hand and pull upward thereon, whereupon the cover 3 will be raised and limited in its upward movement by the stop or guard 9, the rods 6 guiding the cover in its movement and retaining it in proper position to enable it when the chain 11 is released to close down upon the body 1 without difiiculty or requiring adjustment. The arrangement of the chains is also such that the suspension-chains may be grasped below the guide or spreader plate 12 for the purpose of swinging the censer without the chain 11 becoming entangled therewith and without liability of the cover 3 opening and permitting lire from the pot 2 to escape. In the act of swinging the censer and at all other times the chain 11 is held apart from the chains 16, so that it may be readily manipulated when occasion requires. Hence all liability of the chains becoming entangled and preventing the opening or closing of the cover 3, as well as frequent replating of the cover from the accumulation of deposits from the products of combustion and tarnishing of its plating, will be eiectually avoided.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and mode of operation of the invention will be understood without a further extended description.

Changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A censer having a fire-pot, a perforate cover, and a perforate protector within the cover and adapted to close the lire-pot, said protector being spaced from the cover and movable therewith and adapted to collect particles of the products of combustion and prevent the same from adhering to the cover and to shield the same from the direct heat of the fire in the fire-pot.

' 2. A censer having rigid guides arising therefrom, a perforate cover slidably engaging said guides, means for limiting the opening movement of the cover, a perforate shield within the cover and adapted when the cover is closed to cover the lire-pot of the censer, and means for simultaneously opening and closing the cover and shield.

3. Acenser comprising abody having afirepot therein, rigid guides rising from the body, a perforate cover slidable on said guides, a guard carried by said guides and limiting the opening movement of the cover, a perforate shield within the cover and adapted when the cover is closed to cover said fire-pot, means for carrying the censer, and means for opening and closing the cover and shield', substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL J. MULLEN.

I/Vitnesses:

NORA Y yMULLEN, BRIDGET FARRELL.

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